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Live · Guide v1.09684 · Career GuideValidated · Lightcast Labor DataUpdated · Q2 20262026 Cohort Active
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USMC · 9684Career Guide · Operations · VWC.CG.9684.R.04
9684 · USMC · Enlisted

Environmental Law
Attorney.

Marine Corps 9684 (Environmental Law Attorney). 240 hours of formal training translate to 5 validated civilian career pathways with salary bands of $75K–$145K. Sourced from DoD training data and Lightcast labor signals.

Training hours240DoD pipeline
ACE creditACEVaries based on specific Naval Justice School courses and additional qualifications; typically 3-6 graduate-level semester hours.
Tech roles4mapped to your code
Civilian pathways5validated
Cert coverage2/5direct + partial
/ 01 · Tech Roles

Roles your code maps to.

SOURCE · BLS + LIGHTCAST ROLES · 4

Industry tech roles your 9684 background maps to — picked from BLS-anchored occupations using your training, cognitive skills, and systems experience.

Sort · Match descending
/ 02 · Skill Bridge

The gap, named.

What 9684 training already gave you, and the specific gaps to close — not a generic checklist.

Already have05
  • 01
    Environmental Statutes and RegulationsUnderstanding of legal and regulatory frameworks applicable to software and data
  • 02
    Procedural ComplianceAdhering to coding standards, security protocols, and compliance requirements in software development
  • 03
    Adversarial ThinkingIdentifying vulnerabilities and potential risks in systems and processes
  • 04
    System ModelingUnderstanding system interactions and dependencies
  • 05
    Experience with tools like ERNS, HAZMAT Tracking System, RCRA complianceComfortable using software tools for data tracking and analysis
To learn12

The concrete gap to bridge — specific to the roles above, not a generic checklist.

+Cybersecurity fundamentals+Cloud security basics+Risk management frameworks (e.g., NIST, ISO 27001)+SIEM tools (e.g., Splunk, QRadar)+Vulnerability scanning and penetration testing basics+Python scripting for security automation+SQL for data querying+Data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI)+Statistical analysis basics+Fundamentals of computer systems and networks+Basic programming concepts (e.g., Python)+Database management basics
How VWC fits

Vets Who Code is a free, full-time software engineering accelerator for veterans, active duty, and military spouses. We close the fundamentals — terminal, web platform, AI tooling, portfolio projects — so the rest of this list becomes specialization, not square one.

See VWC Programs →
/ 03 · Civilian Pathways

Where your code lands.

SOURCE · LIGHTCAST + CURATED PATHWAYS · 5
P.01

Environmental Lawyer

$145K
High match
High demand
P.02

Environmental Consultant

$85K
Good match
Growing demand
Skills to develop
  • Project Management Professional (PMP) certification
  • Specific environmental regulations expertise (e.g., CERCLA, RCRA)
P.03

Land Use Planner

$78K
Good match
Stable demand
Skills to develop
  • American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) certification
  • Geographic Information Systems (GIS) proficiency
P.04

Compliance Officer (Environmental Regulations)

$75K
Good match
High demand
Skills to develop
  • Certified Compliance & Ethics Professional (CCEP) certification
  • Industry-specific environmental regulations knowledge
P.05

Sustainability Manager

$90K
Moderate match
Growing demand
Skills to develop
  • Sustainability reporting standards (e.g., GRI, SASB)
  • LEED accreditation
  • Corporate sustainability strategy development
/ 04 · Hidden Strengths

What the code built.

Cognitive skills your 9684 training built — and where they transfer in civilian work.

S.01

Procedural Compliance

Environmental law masters must meticulously adhere to complex environmental regulations and legal procedures to ensure compliance and avoid penalties.

Transfers to

Your expertise in adhering to complex procedures and regulations translates to any role requiring strict compliance, such as regulatory affairs, quality assurance, or risk management.

S.02

Adversarial Thinking

Environmental law often involves navigating adversarial situations such as litigation, negotiations with opposing parties, and challenging regulatory interpretations.

Transfers to

Your experience in adversarial thinking prepares you to excel in roles that require negotiation, conflict resolution, and strategic problem-solving, such as contract negotiation, dispute resolution, or competitive intelligence.

S.03

System Modeling

Environmental law masters must understand and model complex environmental systems and processes to assess the impact of proposed actions and develop effective mitigation strategies.

Transfers to

Your understanding of complex systems and their interactions equips you for roles that involve analyzing and modeling complex scenarios, such as supply chain management, logistics optimization, or financial modeling.

S.04

Resource Optimization

Masters of environmental law often must optimize the use of resources while addressing environmental concerns. This might involve balancing economic development with environmental protection.

Transfers to

Your ability to balance competing priorities and optimize resource allocation is valuable in roles requiring strategic decision-making and resource management, like project management, operations management, or consulting.

/ 05 · Non-Obvious Matches

Roles the recruiter won't suggest.

Adjacent civilian roles your training maps to that conventional military-to-civilian advice tends to miss.

Sustainability Consultant

SOC 13-1111

You've been trained to interpret and apply environmental law and regulations. This experience perfectly positions you to advise businesses on sustainable practices and compliance, translating your legal expertise into actionable strategies for corporate responsibility.

Adjacent · Match

Land Use Planner

SOC 19-3051

You've mastered the intricacies of land use law. Now, you can leverage that expertise to shape community development, ensuring projects comply with environmental regulations and promote sustainable land management.

Adjacent · Match

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Manager

SOC 11-2011

You've developed a strong understanding of environmental law and compliance. This makes you uniquely qualified to lead CSR initiatives within a company, ensuring ethical and sustainable business practices that align with environmental regulations and promote positive social impact.

Adjacent · Match
/ 06 · Training & Certs

What you trained on.

SOURCE · DOD + ACE\nVALIDATED
Academy

Naval Justice School

Newport, RI and Continuing Legal Education
240hHours
6wkWeeks
ACECredit

Varies based on specific Naval Justice School courses and additional qualifications; typically 3-6 graduate-level semester hours.

Topics · 8
  • Environmental Statutes and Regulations (Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, Endangered Species Act)
  • Land Use Law and Real Estate
  • Environmental Compliance and Permitting
  • Natural Resources Law
  • Administrative Law and Procedure
  • Military Environmental Policy and Regulations
  • Contract Law
  • International Environmental Law
Partial coverage · 2
  • Certified Environmental Professional (CEP)60%

    The 9684 military job code provides a strong foundation in environmental law. Gaps for the CEP include specific regulatory knowledge (e.g., Clean Water Act permitting), practical experience in environmental site assessments, and potentially some aspects of environmental management systems.

  • Certified Professional in Erosion and Sediment Control (CPESC)40%

    While environmental law provides a good background, the CPESC requires specific engineering knowledge related to erosion control principles, stormwater management practices, and construction site management. Training on design and implementation of erosion control measures will be needed.

Recommended next · 03
  • LEED AP (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional)Adjacent
  • Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM)Adjacent
  • Qualified Environmental Professional (QEP)Adjacent
/ 07 · Systems Translation

What you ran, in their words.

Military systems you operated and their civilian equivalents for your resume.

Military SystemCivilian EquivalentDomain
Marine Corps Order P5090.2A (Environmental Compliance and Protection Manual)EPA Regulations, OSHA regulations, ISO 14000 series (Environmental Management Systems)Operations
NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) Compliance ToolsEnvironmental Impact Assessment (EIA) software, Environmental Compliance SoftwareOperations
ERNS (Environmental Resources Network System)Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software for environmental mapping and analysisNetworking
HAZMAT Tracking SystemSDS (Safety Data Sheet) management software, Chemical Inventory Management SystemsOperations
RCRA (Resource Conservation and Recovery Act) Compliance ToolsWaste management software, Hazardous waste tracking systemsOperations
Clean Water Act Compliance ToolsWater quality monitoring equipment and software, NPDES (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System) permit management systemsOperations
/ Translator · Live

Translate 9684 into a resume that ships.

Pair this guide with the VWC AI-powered translator: drop in your service record, get back ATS-optimized civilian resume language tuned to the tech roles above.